Manchester City Thread

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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by Smudge3920 »

It never ends with Citeh...
..............
The day Man City's plea to hide Premier League inquiry was dismantled

The doors to Court 73 stand at the end of a short, sparsely furnished corridor. A wooden bench stretches down one wall, signs remind visitors to keep a social distance. Staff need not have worried.
It is mid-morning after the night before — English football is still nursing sore heads and hoarse voices after a 2-0 victory over Germany at Wembley.
This corridor is deserted, even as the country's leading club prepares to flex its muscles and clear its throat. Indeed, there is nothing to indicate the bitter fight bubbling behind those double doors. And that is exactly how the two sides want it to remain.
This corner of the Royal Courts of Justice lies beyond a layer of security and a warren of darkened passageways. Round blind corners, up flights of stairs, down more identi-corridors. Until you reach East Block. Even then, Court 73 remains shut. No access to the public or press, it warns. No fanfare either.
It is an unremarkable, rather eerie setting for a battle involving two of this country's sporting behemoths. For years, only a few crumbs of detail emerged about the secret battle between Manchester City and the Premier League. Behind closed doors, the club are still being investigated for violating financial fair play rules more than two years after the league began their probe.
The investigation was launched in December 2018 on the back of 'Football Leaks' claims published by the German magazine, Der Spiegel, which alleged a swathe of irregularities by City. They included disguising direct investment by owner Sheik Mansour as sponsorship income.
The club always insisted that the material was taken 'out of context' and were 'purportedly hacked or stolen', adding that 'the attempt to damage the club's reputation is organised and clear'.
They nevertheless refused to hand over certain documents, prompting the Premier League to begin arbitration in an attempt to force their hand. Since then, in the secrecy of Britain's High Court, City have been fighting that process, too. They disputed whether the arbitrators had jurisdiction to hear the Premier League's claim. They even suggested 'apparent bias', claiming they would be denied a fair hearing because the arbitrators lacked impartiality.
They lost but, by late June, the two sides shared common ground: both wanted to keep more information from prying eyes and ears. They had largely succeeded until March, when the judge who dismissed City's case ruled that the public ought to know her findings. Details of the arbitration dispute had hitherto remained hidden.
That is why City ended up here on the Strand, pleading with Britain's top legal brains to change tack.

HOW CITY FOUGHT TO DELAY THE LEAGUE'S INQUIRY AT EVERY TURN

May 16, 2014: Manchester City are found guilty of breaching UEFA rules around Financial Fair Play (FFP). They are fined €60m (later reduced to €20m) and given short-term caps on squad size and spending.

November 5, 2018: 'Football Leaks' documents, published by German magazine Der Spiegel, allege that City have committed further FFP rules violations.

November 23, 2018: UEFA begin to examine the allegations in Der Spiegel. December 2018: The Premier League write to the club requesting certain information and documents in relation to potential breaches of their rules — known as the information claim. City object to the request.

March 7/8, 2019: UEFA and then the Premier League announce formal investigations into City's alleged FFP breaches.

August 21, 2019: PL issue a complaint against City, seeking disclosure of the documents and information. The club challenges the PL's disciplinary system, claiming the commission set up is not sufficiently independent or impartial.

October 22, 2019: With the documents and information not forthcoming, the PL begin arbitration against the club seeking a declaration that they are contractually obliged to provide them. The club try to stop the arbitration by arguing to the tribunal involved that the PL had no power to start it. They also claim that the tribunal does not appear impartial.

February 14, 2020: UEFA ban City from the Champions League for two seasons and fine them €30m for FFP violations.

June 2, 2020: The tribunal rejects the challenge to its jurisdiction and impartiality.

June 26, 2020: City issue an application in the Commercial Court repeating their argument that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction on the information claim and is tainted with apparent bias.

July 13, 2020: The Champions League ban is overturned on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The UEFA fine is reduced to €10m for non-cooperation with the ruling body's investigation.

November 2, 2020: Meanwhile, the arbitration continues and the club's argument for not having to pass on the requested information and documents are rejected. The order to provide them is postponed pending the outcome of the Commercial Court case.

March 17, 2021: In the Commercial Court, Mrs Justice Moulder dismisses the club's challenge to the jurisdiction and impartiality of the tribunal. She refuses permission to appeal her judgment.

March 24, 2021: The judge says her judgment should be published, which would reveal the lengths to which City have attempted to resist passing on information to the PL. City successfully seek permission to appeal that decision in the Court of Appeal.

May 12, 2021: The Mail on Sunday writes to City and the Premier League asking to be shown details of the the Mrs Justice Moulder's judgment, including both sides' arguments, in the interests of open justice and to determine whether the newspaper should intervene on the club's appeal. The newspaper is prepared to guarantee nothing is published, but the requests are refused.

June 30, 2021: The Court of Appeal opens its hearing into the club's appeal against publication. The Mail on Sunday sends a barrister to court and is given last-minute permission to attend.

July 20, 2021: The Court of Appeal hands down its decision dismissing the appeal.

That is why The Mail on Sunday are here, too. After our own lengthy battle, this newspaper won the exclusive right to hear City's appeal.Back in April, our reporter Nick Harris discovered this twist in the club's clandestine battle with the league. And so began our burrowing down legal rabbit holes in search of open justice.
It began with attempts to persuade the judiciary to allow us to write what we knew. Then went letters to City and the Premier League with a simple request: let us see the details of this case and the arguments on either side — even on the promise they will not be published. That would allow us to decide whether to intervene and fight for transparency.

Unsurprisingly, those requests were refused. But then, with barely a day's notice, The Mail on Sunday got wind of this latest hearing. Off went an 11th-hour application to send a barrister who could fight our corner to allow a reporter to listen in.

That sparked another anxious wait. This time on the East Block bench — no other journalists, no more information while legal arguments continued inside the locked courtroom.

Eventually, though, a glint of light. The door to Court 73 swings open. A clerk of the court emerges, to serve a reminder that nothing seen or heard can be published. Not yet, anyway.
He leads the way into a courtroom glaringly lopsided. In this fight for a last-minute reprieve, City have wheeled out the heavy artillery: the left side of the benches is awash with gowns and sharp suits — half a dozen barristers working under the same shade of sky blue. The right flank is virtually deserted, save for our barrister and solicitors on a watching brief from the Premier League. Behind them, a deserted gallery of taped-off seats. This is our vantage point as Lord Pannick QC, one of the most brilliant advocates of his generation, leads the City attack.
The Premier League giants turned to the 65-year-old last year, when they fought a £26million fine and two-year ban from the Champions League all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. At a cost of £20,000 a day, it is said. Over two and a half decades, Pannick has acted in many of this country's most high-profile cases. In recent years, he twice defeated the Government over Brexit on behalf of Gina Miller.
Today he is flanked by Paul Harris QC, who also led City's appeal to CAS and who has worked with Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Saracens and the RFU.
Already, they are one down, having lost the argument to keep The Mail on Sunday locked out. Now comes the crucial second leg: to overturn the decision to publish details of this case. City insist their appeal has no effect on the Premier League's investigation, or any possible punishment. It concerns only the privacy of the case and, Pannick claims, there is 'no suggestion to the contrary' by the league itself.If the presence of Pannick, flanked by a small legion of silk, illustrated City's financial might — and their hunger to keep a lid on this affair — the three judges staring him down told their own tale.
Traditionally, only the most complex cases come before the Master of the Rolls, the second most senior figure in the British justice system. Here, Sir Geoffrey Vos sits in the middle of three red chairs. On his right, Sir Julian Flaux, the chancellor of the High Court. On the other side, Lord Justice Males, an arbitration expert who spent more than 30 years at the bar.For nearly two hours, they listen as Pannick's round glasses and sharp mind tried to bend this case back in City's favour. The QC entwines authority with deference as he politely argues that Mrs Justice Moulder 'erred' by ordering the publication of her judgments.
With no one in the opposite corner, only the judges can challenge Pannick over nuances of law and legal precedent. The sparring remains cordial enough, even as City's case comes to the boil. Even as Vos appears particularly unsympathetic to the club's plea for privacy. 'You are bemoaning reality,' he tells Pannick. 'This is a matter of the greatest public interest.'
City had launched several challenges to the Premier League's attempt to obtain documents and information. They lost on all counts and now the club want to keep that secret too. 'What the court is saying,' Pannick argues, 'is that the price [of bringing the challenges] might be publication.'
Moreover, publication would spark extensive press coverage of what has happened — and any possible sanctions — in '[what] would ordinarily be a private process.'
That, City claim, will make it more difficult to reach a resolution without more arbitration. They point out that the Premier League would also prefer details are kept under wraps, even if they want the power to refer to this judgment in any disputes with other clubs. Or, as Flaux puts it: 'They are trying to have their cake and eat it.' 'Absolute privacy' in a field like football is almost impossible, City are told. Particularly when the public have known about this investigation for years. Flaux argues they are in fact 'lucky' there hasn't been more press coverage.
But Pannick strikes back. In cases like these, he argues, the scales of open justice must tip in favour of confidentiality over public interest. A judge has to consider 'primarily the interests of parties involved' over third parties. 'Businesses have to be confident their privacy will be respected,' he tells the court.
Eventually, Pannick says City want publication to be stayed until the end of the investigation and any disciplinary process.
Before long, the three judges climb out of their seats and exit stage right. After the doors close, City wigs began to shake. They sense their fate is sealed.
When the court rises again a few minutes later, however, Vos delivers only a stay of execution. Instead, he says, the judges will retire to consider their verdict. When that comes nine days later, the judgment of City is damning.The final paragraph, written by Lord Justice Males, delivers a stiletto to the heart of City's case. 'The club has been anxious to emphasise before us that 'the arbitral proceedings relate to an ongoing and confidential investigatory and disciplinary process which is still in its early stages', and that it may be that no charges will ever be brought against it,' he writes. 'While that may be true, it seems to me that this is, if anything, a factor which tells in favour of publication. This is an investigation which commenced in December 2018. 'It is surprising, and a matter of legitimate public concern, that so little progress has been made after two and a half years — during which, it may be noted, the club has twice been crowned as Premier League champions.'
..........
Source Daily Mail Daniel Matthews...
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by The Subhuman »

Can't stand City or Chelsea atm, no idea if Pep is a good manager or just the beneficiary of the most expensive squad in history.. I'm hoping if we can't win the prem then ARS or MU win it.. They're the least objectionable of the big 6.
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by Mick Jones shoulder »

Always been about chucking money at it, even Don had the pick of players due to our success. Nothing changes.
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by Cjay »

faaip wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 1:18 pm Can't stand City or Chelsea atm, no idea if Pep is a good manager or just the beneficiary of the most expensive squad in history.. I'm hoping if we can't win the prem then ARS or MU win it.. They're the least objectionable of the big 6.
Really?

Dont let the media narrative fool you.

Over the last 10 years Manchester United have a higher net spend than any of the other 6 including Man City, they have been buying the trophies for decades.

And the 3rd highest net spend? Arsenal.

The media push the anti Chelsea, City narrative and trust me i am no fan but Arsenal and Manure are as bad as both of them despite the moaning from their fans.

IN fact in terms of net spend Chelsea are only a couple of tens of million higher than Everton and Villa over the last 10 years, all 3 are between £350-400mil but the media never mention that.
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by The Subhuman »

What media narrative?
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by whiteswan »

OK, so,who are the BIG six? Are folks mistaking big for rich?
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by 1964white »

whiteswan wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:25 pm OK, so,who are the BIG six? Are folks mistaking big for rich?
Well six of them think they are the big six :roll:
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by Cjay »

faaip wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:22 pm What media narrative?
That Man City and Chelsea have helped ruin English football and made it an unfair playing field.

The Glazers and Korenke have destroyed Arsenal and Manure etc.

They are all as bad as eachother.
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by whiteswan »

1964white wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:31 pm Well six of them think they are the big six :roll:
Exactly my point Leon
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by SG90 »

Cjay wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:35 pm That Man City and Chelsea have helped ruin English football and made it an unfair playing field.

The Glazers and Korenke have destroyed Arsenal and Manure etc.

They are all as bad as eachother.
Exactly.

Scum have spent a fortune, just on shite like Maguire and Fred. :lol:
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by 1964white »

SG90 wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:42 pm Exactly.

Scum have spent a fortune, just on shite like Maguire and Fred. :lol:
An Pogba only plays to his potential when he's in the mood or if he has French hat on.
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by weasel »

SG90 wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:42 pm Exactly.

Scum have spent a fortune, just on shite like Maguire and Fred. :lol:
That is the big difference between City and Utd at the moment - City have generally spent well whereas MU have overspent and wasted a lot. The amount spent by City, and wages, includes the huge number of players they buy in to then sell for a profit without making an appearance for City. You also have to factor that City have had to play catch up as prior to the huge invetsment their team was vastly inferior to MU's as was their spending.
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Re: Manchester City Thread

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Cjay wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:35 pm That Man City and Chelsea have helped ruin English football and made it an unfair playing field.

The Glazers and Korenke have destroyed Arsenal and Manure etc.

They are all as bad as eachother.
Never read that tbf ..
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Re: Manchester City Thread

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McGuire one of the bet players at the Euro's recently.. so there's that
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by 1964white »

Friendlies
Man City 2-0 Preston
Man City 4-0 Barnsley
Man City 4-1 Blackpool
7 Aug v Leicester, Wembley (Community Shield)
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by Cjay »

The Jack Grealish bid is expected to be accepted by Villa and then it will be up to Grealish ( be amazed if he turned them down).

Got me thinking.

£100mil for Grealish
£70mil for Sancho

Sancho has far better stats (admittedly playing for a better side) but he is also 4 or 5 years younger, Man City are overpaying here imo but also do they need Grealish?

He is a creator, they have never had any issue creating chances, what they lack now Aguero is gone is a goalscorer?

Surely a striker should be a priority?

Kane, Haaland, Bamford?

Also the elephant in the room is Grealish's shin issues, he has missed over 20 games just with shin problems since the 18 19 season.
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by Mountain »

Grealish and Walker on the same team.

What odds on a Covid outbreak in the City side...
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Re: Manchester City Thread

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Just find it a very odd move. He's not what Man City are missing, he won't be the difference between them winning the league or not. For £100m, he's never played in Europe, so how can they know if he's good enough in the Champions League? For all the hype in the Euros, he was nothing special. Also it's one thing being a big fish in a small pond, he won't be the main star at Man City, so will he work in their side?
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by danhirons »

SG90 wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 9:22 am Just find it a very odd move. He's not what Man City are missing, he won't be the difference between them winning the league or not. For £100m, he's never played in Europe, so how can they know if he's good enough in the Champions League? For all the hype in the Euros, he was nothing special. Also it's one thing being a big fish in a small pond, he won't be the main star at Man City, so will he work in their side?
he barely played at the euros but still managed to change the game against Germany for us

great player, will do really well for them, but 100 mill seems steep - guess Villa don't want to sell and he comes with the inflated young British talent price tag

England's euros sub wingers going for 80 and 100 mill :shock:
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Re: Manchester City Thread

Post by Smudge3920 »

The Grealish deal is so confusing to me ... for Citeh to accomadate him, they would have to drop one of 4 players...KDB, Silva, Foden or Sterling... so arguably this means he is going to a team he will not improve for 100 mill... boggles my mind :?
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